What Hath Joined Together

Chapter 9

                                                                              Into The Frozen North

Flash Sentry hadn't encountered a truly terrifying foe since Queen Chrysalis and her swarm invaded Canterlot. Compared to those shape-shifting monsters, stallions like Orion were a breeze. While they, like the disgraced noble, may be malevolent, at least their methods and madness could be anticipated, analyzed, and countered.

If given a choice between battling a few Changelings or remaining locked in this cab with Princess Twilight Sparkle, Flash wasn't quite sure which one he would ultimately choose. At least he could trust himself with Changelings. The mare who tip-hoofed her way through his dreams was a different story.

Once the train began to move, Twilight stretched her forehooves across the table and said with a chuckle, "Heh, sorry about that earlier, by the way."

Sorry? "B-beg pardon, Twilight?"

"Oh, well... Princess Celestia offered me a chariot, but I wanted to get in a little extra flying practice," Twilight explained with a sheepish grin and another little laugh. "Guess I just forgot that I would have some ponies wanting to see me before I made it to the Crystal Empire."

"Oh. Uhh..." Flash took to studying the intricate patterns of the train's wallpaper for a few seconds, cursing his hesitance. C'mon! You're going to have to get through this somehow! "Th—that's fine, Twilight."

Already, he wanted to stomp himself again.

You have a job to do, he reminded himself, forcing himself to glance around the cab again. His gaze locked onto the window beside the beds. Stop acting like a pansy and do that job. Observe.

Flash squinted and studied their outside surroundings carefully. Nothing was to be seen but a pristine sky and wildflowers blowing in the breeze—not one hovering pegasus, nor any unicorn or Earth pony hooves dangling off the roof of the train. The landscape passed by as the train pressed on with nary a bump in the rails.

This is ridiculous! There's nothing there. It's an empty train, nopony following. And of all the Princesses who would be in danger of an usurper, she's not—

"What are you doing?"

Flash turned around. "Er, um—"

Trying not to look at you?

"Is there something out there?"

My sanity.

The cab seemed to be suffocating him. Flash leaned against his weapon and fidgeted in his seat. "Well, er, you see—"

Before he could get another half-word in edgewise, Twilight glanced out the window. "Hmm. I don't see anything."

"Oh, well," Flash managed at last, "I suppose it was nothing, Pri—"

"Twilight."

"Right," he mumbled, rubbing his neck. "Twilight. Sorry."

Her laugh, merry and light, filled his ears again. As he looked away, Flash considered the ultimate consequences of jumping out the window. Or, perhaps, laying on his spear. Twelve hours? Where's a Changeling horde when you need it?

Twilight smiled and drummed a forehoof on the table. "Don't worry. I'm sure everything will be fine. I'm not exactly worried about anypony following us. And we have the whole train to ourselves, so it should be safe, right?"

"Yes, ma'am." He nodded and crossed his forehooves over the table, sitting up straighter than any attentive schoolcolt.

Twilight snort-laughed, drawing a tinge of crimson to his cheeks. She shook her head and gave him a gentle smile. "Sorry. I didn't mean anything by that. It's just... 'ma'am' sounds like something I'll be called when I'm old and grey."